When the disappointment is not so raw.doc

When the disappointment is not so raw, Roy Hodgson will probably be entitled to take great encouragement from the way his new-look team contributed to a night of vibrant attacking football. England played as if they wanted to establish an entirely new reputation in one night. Yet the sense of anguish is considerable, bearing in mind they have lost their opening match and the path out of Group D looks increasingly hazardous. They gave everything and, in an attacking sense, the decision to play Raheem Sterling behind Daniel Sturridge was instrumental in ensuring England frequently menaced their opponents. Sterling was outstanding on a night when, ultimately, there were heavy repercussions for a couple of moments of slack defending, most notably when Mario Balotelli headed in the game’s decisive moment five minutes into the second half. England could conceivably have to win their next two matches, starting against Uruguay in S?o Paulo on Thursday, but at least they can be lifted by the way they passed the ball, particularly in the first hour. Their movement has never been better in the Hodgson era, encapsulated by Sturridge’s first-half equaliser shortly after Claudio Marchisio had rifled the opening goal past Joe Hart. Unfortunately for Hodgson, his team’s back line was vulnerable too often. The defending was generous for Balotelli’s goal and if England are to save themselves they will have to remove the errors that undid so much promising work further up the pitch. Hodgson’s selection will be commended for its adventure and, if nothing else, maybe now he can be spared the tag of conservatism. Sterling was not there as the classic No10 but because Hodgson thought the teenager could endanger Italy’s central defenders with his directness and searing pace. The player actually wearing the No10, Wayne Rooney, was shifted to the left and Danny Welbeck, who usually plays on that side, was moved to the right. Hodgson’s selection was ambitious, experimental and a good riposte